
(lass /f^S/^T^ 

- r6- 






THE 



HEABT'S MUSINaS 



FKANKLIN W. FISH. 



Mihi sunt prinise partes.'' 



NEW YORK: 
R. CRAIGHEAD, PRINTER, 112 FULTON STREET. 

1850. 



T6 i^'^^^ 



3Ki[ /rtjujts, 



FROM ONE WHO, 



IN HIS HAPPIEST OR GLOOMIEST HOURS, 



FINDS JOY IN THEIR 



Slit. I 



CONTENTS 



Pag« 

A Translation of Part of the First Book of Virgil ... 1 

Man 16 

Spring 17 

Childhood 18 

Sunshine ever follows Shade 19 

Friendship ; . . 21 

Trust in Providence 22 

God is Love 24 

This is the last of Earth, I am content . . . • . 26 

An Enigma ..." 29 

Virtue 30 

Woman 31 

I would Love no more ; , 33 

On the Death of the Misses Davidson 36 

The Indian Chief s Reply to his Captors .... 38 

Life 41 

Washington refusing a Crown 43 

Thoughts suggested in passing through a Forest in Autumn 46 

The Night before Vacation 49 

ToM 52 

To L 55 

To S. C S '.'.'. 58 

To my Teacher 60 

Heaven our Final Resting-place 63 

On hearing of the Defeat of the Hungarians .... 65 

The Vision ; . . . 67 



The Start in Life 



71 



Life and Immortality 74 

To S. C. S ] ] 76 

To J. S., Esq ' .' 78 

No Rose but hath its Thorn ....... 80 



11 CONTENTS. 

Page 

To my Mother 81 

Written after being charged with Ingratitude ... 82 

The Dream of Heaven 84 

Religion 87 

Thoughts on the Death of my Grandfather .... 89 

I would we ne'er had met again 90 

Oh ! if thou wilt still keep thine heart 91 

Home 92 

A Mother 94 

What Shadows we are 96 

To J. T. M 99 

Gentle Reader, hast thou loved ? ^ 100 

I'd weep o'er Joys that leave me 101 

To a young married Friend 103 

To M 104 

If I lose thee I am Lost 108 

To J. S., Esq 309 

Cupid's Accident Ill 

At the close of a Session at School 113 

Ida 116 

Columbus discovering America 120 

Marco Bozzaris's Welcome to Death 123 

To ■ 125 

To 127 

The Last of the Pequods 128 

To a Friend 135 

A Dream 138 

Leila 143 

Our Union 149 

The Vesper Hymn 151 

Dreams of Heaven 153 

Man 155 

To the Memory of my Father .161 

Never Despair 164 

ToJ. W. C 166 

The Indian Maiden's Grave 168 

The Wanderer 171 



A TRANSLATION 



OF PART OF THE 



FIRST BOOK OF VIRGIL. 



Arms and the man I sing, who, first his 

wandering o'er, 
Came forth from Ilium to the Latian shore ; 
Far was he driven from his purposed path, 
By cruel Juno's unrelenting wrath. 
Much did he suffer while on sea was tossed, 
To bear his Lares from the shrines they lost. 
From whence the Albans and the Latins 

came, 

1 



2 THE heart' S M U S I X g s . 

And lofty Rome's imperishable name. 
Oh heavenly Muse, relate to me the cause 
Of all his troubles, and his direful wars", 
Or when the day, or whensoe'er the hour, 
That Troy infringed on her immortal power, 
Or why the man by such sad cares oppressed. 
Dwells such resentment in a heavenly breast ? 
Carthage, an ancient famous city stood, 
Facing Lavinia and the Tiber's flood ; 
Rich in resources, and renowned for war : 
There were her arms and her triumphal 

car. 
The Goddess Queen most earnestly does 

strive 
That this loved city may 'bove others thrive ; 
But Fates command and sovereign doom will 

grant. 
That ruined Troy shall a vast empire plant. 
That hence a nation ruling far and wide, 



THE heart's musings. 3 

Of al] the world the glory and the pride, 
That hence a people, sprung from Trojan 

race, 
Should level Carthage from her lofty place, 
And fearing this and mindful of the hate 
Which she had borne against the Trojan 

state, 
Nor for a moment in her troubled grief 
Had a kind feeling ever brought relief, 
Her slighted beauty and her form's disgrace, 
Ganymede's honors, and the hated race, 
The remnant saved from out Achilles' hand. 
The last sad relics of the Dardan band. 
For many years the band impelled by fate, 
And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate. 
Kept far from Latium and the Latin coast, 
O'er every land, o'er every ocean tossed. 
It was a task of so much arduous toil, 
To raise proud Rome from the Saturnian soil. 



4 TtlE HEARTHS MUSINGS. 

Scarce had they left Trinacria's shores 

behind, 
And gladly furrowing the foaming brine, 
When Juno cherishing within her breast 
Eternal hate against the Trojan crest, 
Thus with herself th' immortal Goddess 

thought — 
The Trojans' only last attempt to thwart : 
For me o'erpowered even once to bend. 
Subdued by Jove and Fate's unflinching end; 
Could Pallas then the Argive fleet submerge 
And drive their corses o'er the mountain 

surge I 
For the mad crime and lust of one alone 
Must all the warriors of the Greeks atone ! 
She in her fury casting from above 
The unquenching fire of Almighty Jove, 
Scattered his fleet, upturned the sea with 

winds, 



Destroyed his ships, and their brave Hves 

rescinds ; 
Him breathing flames from out his transfixed 

breast, 
Bound on a rock, by fiery chains oppressed ; 
But I who move th' immortal Gods above, 
The Queen of Heaven, the " sister wife" of 

Jove, 
With a mere nation wage a war so long, 
Nor obtain a vengeance for my heartfelt 

wrong. 
And who'll respect my sacred power divine, 
Or place a victim on my slighted shrine ? 

Revolving such things in her incensed mind, 
Comes to iEolia where dwells the wind. 
There King tEoIus, in a mighty cave, 
Restrains the winds, and does their feelings 
swathe. 



6 THE heart's musings. 

Indignant they, at such a gloomy fate, 
Roar round th' inclosure and the mountains 

shake. 
But King ^olus on a lofty throne 
Keeps down their wrath, and they his sceptre 

own. 
Unless this done, in rapid course they'd bear 
The earth, the sea, and the deep heaven 

tear. 
But Father Jove, foreseeing this event, 
A tyrant king to curb their power has sent, 
Who knows well how to hold a haughty 

sway, 
And whom the blasts are fated to obey ; 
Whom, Juno speaking from her haughty 

breast, 
A suppliant now the Monarch King ad- 
dressed : 
" Oh ! iEolus, to whom the King of Heaven, 



THE heart's musings. / 

To calm the storms, and soothe their rage 

has given ; 
To stop their force alone was given to you ; 
Thou canst their fury quell, their wrath 

subdue. 
A nation hostile, o'er the ocean plods, 
Bearing from Troy the conquered country's 

Gods, 
To sweet Lavinia their course they 

steer, 
And for their Gods new temples there to 

rear. 
Raise all thy blasts, with night o'ercloud the 

skies ! 
Let stormy waves close o'er their drowning 

eyes ! 
Twice seven nymphs, the daughters of the 

sea. 
Around me wait, and my commands obey, 



8 THE heart's musings. 

Second my wish, and to my will incline^ 
Deiopea, then, the fairest one, is thine ; 
A nymph, surpassing all in lovely face. 
Shall make thee parent of a beauteous race/' 
To this the God — "'Tis yours, oh Queen, to 

say, 
My duty's done when thy commands obey : 
This bounteous realm, the winds at my com- 
mand. 
Are all the offspring of the generous hand. 
You gave to me the favor of my Lord, 
And made me banquet at the heavenly 

board. 
Raise storms at will, upturn the bound- 
less sea. 
Dispose the empire which I have of thee." 
Thus having spoken, hurled his mighty 

spear 
Against the mountain, and its sides did tear. 



THE heart's musings. 9 

The angry winds rushed from the gaping 

wound, 
And tore tempestuous long the rocky ground. 
Notus and Eur us, with mad feelings, tear 
And toss the mountain billows high in air ; 
Africus alike joins in the deaf ning roar, 
And rolls the maddening waves from shore 

to shore. 
Dark clouds, with thundering, roar along 

the skies, 
The lightnings flash, the raging waves 

arise : 
Th' affrighted chieftain thus his fate laments. 
While raging winds tear all the sails in rents : 
" Oh thrice and four times happy they," he 

cried, 
"Who, fighting bravely, for their country 

died. 

Beneath their parents' anxious eyes they fell, 
1* 



Their happy spirits sought the gates of hell. 
O, bravest Greek, thou haughty Diomed, 
Why 'neath thy mighty arm had 1 not 

bled? 
Or why did me my Goddess mother save, 
That I must perish in a watery grave ? 
O had I fallen on the Ilian shore, 
And Troy's sad fields been sprinkled with 

my gore, 
Or would the dart of Peleus' valiant son 
Had pierced my breast as that of Sarpedon ; 
Where great Simois, with her rippling waves, 
Rolls down the arms and corses of the 

braves." 
As thus iEneas his sad lot bewails, 
A roaring blast strikes full against the sails. 
The oars break, the vessel turns her prow, 
And with broadside receives the coming 

blow. 



THE heart's musings. 11 

Some climb the higher wave, some coming 

down 
Behold the billows 'bove their vessel frown. 
The gaping waves disclose the very land, 
The boiling waters rage with intermingled 

sand. 
Three ships the south wind, having forced 

away, 
Drives on the rocks which near Trinacria 

lay; 
They call them Altars, and with careful fear 
Around their sides the Ausonian sailors steer. 
Three Eurus, tossing with his angry waves, 
High on the rocks and awful quicksands 

leaves. 
Next, that on which the Lycian crew was 

borne 
Was from the gaze of all the seamen torn. 
Of this Orontes held supreme command, 



The king and leader of the Lycian band. 
From side to side the mountain waves are 

borne, 
Th' unhappy pilot from the helm was torn ; 
Headlong he falls into the raging deep, 
His eyelids closed in death's eternal sleep. 
Thrice round and round th' unlucky ship was 

tossed, 
And then for ever 'neath the wave was lost. 
Then here and there upon the deep apj)ear, 
Men, arms, and treasures that to Troy were 

dear. 
Ilioneus' ship bends to the tempest's sway, 
And through her loosened joints sucks in 

the sea. 
Next that on which the brave Achates went, 
Down to the bottom of the sea was sent ; 
Abas and Aletes meet with equal fate, 
All on account of Juno's deadly hate. 



THE heart's musings. 13 

In through their sides the fatal waters rush, 
And Hke the torrents from the mountains 

gush. 
Meanwhile proud Neptune, from the mighty 

deep, 
Where ocean-nymphs around his person 

keep, 
Perceives the ocean in a loud uproar, 
And heaving mountain billows on the shore ; 
Then quickly raised his head above the sea. 
And saw far driven from their wished-for 

way 
The wearied remnants of the Trojan host, 
Their vessels shipwrecked and their seamen 

lost. 
His sister's angry wiles her brother knew, 
And why she did ill-fated Troy pursue. 
Notus and Eurus to his presence bid, 
And them he thus with angry feelings chid : 



14 THE heart's musings. 

" Ye rebel winds, tell me from whence 

This so great daring and this insolence, 

Or why so trusting on yom' power ye 

claim, 
Against my will, to toss the troubled main. 
Whom I" the sea-god checks his angry 

mood ; 
" 'Tis better first to check the raging flood. 
Ye shall e'er long my mighty power feel, 
And learn obedient at my feet to kneel. 
Haste to -^olia, tell your monarch there. 
The mighty ocean and the liquid air. 
And the stern trident fell by lot to me ; 
'Tis mine, not his, to raise the angry sea, 
There in his courts let him his power boast, 
And hold his sway within that rock-bound 

coast. 
Where you, oh Eurus, in his walls confined. 
Are doomed for ever his commands to mind." 



THE HEART S MUSINGS. 15 

Thus spake the god, and quickly smoothed 

the sea, 
Scattered the darkness, and brought forth 

the day. 
Cymothoe and Triton, and a lengthened 

train 
Of beauteous nymphs, fair daughters of the 

main, 
Bring all their great immortal power to bear, 
And from the rocks the foundered vessels 

tear ; 
The god himself with mighty power stands, 
And with his trident opes the moving sands, 
Then here and there his finny coursers 

guides, 
Where'er he goes the angry wave subsides. 



USINGS, 



MAN. 

What is wealth, or honor, fame. 

Ambition's crown, or victor's wreath, 
When o'erwhelmed by Ufe's sad stream, 

Wearied, man goes down beneath. 
What can be his dearest treasures ! 

What his honor and renown ! 
E'en when cased around with pleasures, 

Threatening dangers him surround. 

Soon we'll leave life's busy way, 

And we'll quit this land of woe. 
And for ever 'neath the sea 

Of stormy life, we'll sink below. 
What can be his honors then ! 

What his pleasures and his joys ! 
All his life is but a dream. 

All enjoyments fruitless joys. 



heart's musings. 17 



SPRING. 



Frosty Winter now has left us, 
And we see sweet Spring advance, 

Scattering flowers from her casket, 
Let her now^ our thoughts enhance. 

Cast your eyes around about you ! 

See the lovely beauteous earth, 
See sweet Spring her power exerting, 

Bringing nature into birth. 

Winter now resigns his sceptre, 
Yielding to the conqueror's power, 

Snows are soon about to leave us, 
Spring will visit us once more. 



18 THE heart's musings. 



CHILDHOOD. 

Sweet Childhood's but a summer morn, 
When the clear blue sky by no storms is 

torn, 
When human Life is an opening flower, 
And the gliding year is a passing hour. 

The gentle stream runs rippling by, 

And the plumage of Life bears a gaudy dye. 

They dream of the future in prospects so 

bright. 
That eager they long to hasten their flight. 

'Tis little they dream of the dangers around, 
The wearisome trials their path will surround, 
All seems to be pleasure, there is no alloy, 
Their pathway is pleasure, their day-star is 

joy. 



THE heart's musings. 19 



SUNSHINE EVER FOLLOWS 
SHADE. 

There are times of deepest sorrow, 
When the heart feels lone and sad, 

When clouds hang o'er our sunlight, 
And our hopes with darkness clad. 

When our fondest hopes are blighted, 
And our dearest prospects fade, 

Think that e'er in Nature's order, 
Sunlight ever follows shade. 

When the world, cold, dark, and selfish, 
Frowns upon our feeble frame, 

When nets of direful slander. 
Are thrown about our name. 



20 THE heart's musings. 

Yet memory's spell of magic, 
Illumes life's darkest night, 

And changes the clouds of darkness 
Into clear and brilliant light. 



FRIENDSHIP. 

Though life is frail and fleeting, 
And time swift passes by, 
I will not grieve while fondly 
Those I love on me rely. 

Let time pass on so quickly 
I will not mind his wings, 
If one I love so dearly 
Still fondly to me clings. 

If all the rest is faded, 
This shall not lose its bloom, 
But, like the rose in Summer, 
Shall ever shed perfume. 

His words shall be my sunshine, 
His love shall be my cheer, 
And we'll journey on together, 
Till closed by Death's career. 



22 THE Heart's musings. 



TRUST IN PROVIDENCE 

Matt. iv. 10. 
" Him only shalt thou serve." 

Why art thou so cast down, my soul, 
So heavily dost move, 
The God alone shall be thy God, 
" Him only shalt thou serve." 

If cares surround and toils oppress, 
Oh, fix thy eyes above, 
For he alone can hear thy grief, 
*' Him only shalt thou serve." 

And if you weep, He'll dry your tears, 
If him alone you love, 
For he will calm all angry fears, 
" Him only shalt thou serve." 



THE heart's musings. 23 

Thou shalt not bow to other Gods, 
Save him who reigns above, 
Nor shalt thou kneel to wood or stone, 
"Him only shalt thou serve." 

" When care and anguish rack the brow," 
From truth thou shalt not swerve, 
"For thou shalt love the Lord thy God, 
Him only shalt thou serve." 



24 THE heart's musings. 



-GOD IS LOVE." 

He pardons faults, our crimes overlooks, 
And points our way to lands above, 
If we with contrite hearts will come 
And pray to him, for " God is love." 

The darkest sin we can commit, 

The crime of blackest hue, 

He readily will all forgive, 

And heal our sin, for " God is true." 

If mortals frown, and fates pursue, 
And fortunes adverse move. 
He is the same whene'er she smiles, 
Or when she frowns, for " God is love." 



THE HEARTS MUSIISIGS: 

If he afflicts us with Ufe's woes, 
He only us would prove ; 
For willingly he ne'er afflicts 
The sons of men, for " God is love/' 

And when life's embers cease to burn, 
He guides our souls above, 
To rest with him in endless peace 
In heaven high, for "God is love." 

Then ye that are in darkness kept, 
And think 'twill ne'er improve. 
Look up to him and pray for aid ; 
He will assist, for " God is love." 



26 THE IIKAKT S MUSTKGS 



"THIS IS THE LAST OF EARTH, 
I AM CONTENT," 

Were the last words of a dying statesman, who fell from 
his official seat in the House of Representatives and yielded 
his spirit to the arms of the universal conqueror, alike 
reminding us of the ubiquity of Death and of his stern 
impartiality. 

" The last of earth," I yield to God 

The spirit that to me he gave, 
Nor shall I ask or vainly seek 

My Heeting life from death to save ; 
For 1 will leave as I have stayed. 
Nor fly from death too long delayed. 

Full long enough on earth Fve been. 
And now I'll take my last repose. 
Too much of this vilo world I've seen ; 



T 11 r: H E A H T S MUSINGS. 

Deceit nlike in friends or Ibes. 
With joy I part with fleeting breath, 
And yield my lii'e to thee, O Death ! 

My body '11 crumble 'neath the soil 
Where you have laid me down to rest, 

No more on earth in vain to toil. 
But rest upon my Maker's breast. 

I'll heed no monumental load, 

When I've returned unto my God. 

I proudly say that I have borne 
By far the noblest, brightest gem. 

That, like a rainbow 'mid the storm, 
Shines in Ambition's diadem. 

And gladly now I fling all by, 

For heaven's imperial majesty ! 

" The last of earth," my course is run, 
I ^o to dust from whence I came. 



28 THE heart's musings. 

And now, before the set of sun, 

I'll live no more, except in name ; 
For now bright ministers of Fate 
For my frail breath already wait. 

" The last of earth, I am content," 
I yield my breath to God, who gave 

Me all that ever I possessed. 

Both here and all beyond the grave ; 

And now I die as I have lived. 

By friends caressed, by friends bereaved. 



1 II K heart's musings. 29 



AN ENIGMA. 

In friends or in foes 

His presence we find, 
Both anger and love him embrace, 

In death or in life 

He always is near, 
And forms both our feet and our face. 

If we climb up to heaven 
We'll sure find him there. 

Without him it ne'er could exist, 
Or if to the depths of 
The earth we descend, 

There naught will his power resist. 



30 T HE heart's M U S 1 N G S 



V 1 R r U E . 

She gilds our paths, and lends a ray 
Of glory to our brightest hours : 

Her sun illumes our darkest day. 

And makes it fair by her sweet })o\vers 

She cheers us on 'mid gloomy strife, 

And gives a joy to parting life. 



al 



WOMAN. 

" When care and anguish rack the brow, 
A ministering angel thou." Scott. 

Yes, in thy love thou cahn'st our grief, 
And bid'st our troubles flee away : 

Thou'rt always ready with relief 
To aid us in our gloomiest day. 

If woes beset or clouds surround, 
Alike thou always comest near, 

And wip'st away, with loving hand, 
Affliction's deepest, saddest tear. 

And when time makes the cheek to fade, 
The joyous eye grow dim and sad, 



32 THE heart's musings. 

Thy gentle presence drives the shade 
Far from the heart in sorrow clad. 

When age his furrows o'er us sweeps, 
The rippling blood flows dull and slow, 

Thou lull'st our troubled fears to sleep, 
And sooth'st our grief and calm'st our woe 



THE heart's musings. 33 



" 1 WOULD LOVE NO MORE." 

Leave me, oh ! leave me, I would love no 

more. 

Thy mem'ry binds me w^ith too sad a spell ; 

Thou mak'st these very regions w^here I am 

Too mournful in their mournfulness ! 

Farev^ell. 

Leave me ! for thy thoughts now turn to 
clouds 

The brightest heaven of the azure skies, 
It wakes a feeling of so deep a hate. 

That even virtue in its recess dies ! 

Thy slighting motions cause no tears to gush, 

Nor make the quick blood thrill unto my 

heart ; 

2* 



34 THE heart's musings. 

My feelings bid me thy mere name to hush, 
And drive thy image from my aching 
heart. 



Leave me, oh ! leave me, for those early 
years. 
The first, first gushing of my love's deep 
flow. 
Can ne'er o'ersw^eep the present thoughts of 
hate. 
Or turn to life what now I feel — Ah no ! 



Happy I, once, before 1 knew thy power, 
Or e'er my soul was changed from love 
to strife. 

For deep disgust has turned me far from thee, 
Unto a dream-like wilderness of life. 



THE heart's musings. 35 

My soul, where once a beauteous diamond 

dwelt, 

A viper coils with his envenomed breath, 

And all that once for thee in friendship 

lived 

Has turned for ever, as from life to death. 



36 



ON THE DEATH OF THE MISSES 
DAVIDSON. 

These two talented young ladies, had they lived, would 
no doubt have graced our array of poetic talent, but being 
frail and delicate in their constitution, quenched their own 
fire by too intense application. 

O YE, SO early lost, so much deplored, 
Pure spirits, born for realms on high ! 

Ye stayed a moment with us here, 
Then went to the far-distant sky. 

Ye were like meteors for a time, 

Emblazing in the azure sky, 
Then fading in your own bright light, 

Were lost in the eternity. 



THE HEARTS MUSINGS. 37 

Your minds were fires in the earth, 
Unworthy though the earth may be, 

Which quenched themselves ere they had 
grown 
Or strengthened to maturity. 

This feeble tribute is your own, 
I love to con your mem'ries o'er, 

And joy to read, in strains of love, 
Your music that shall sleep no more. 

To you I pour the heartfelt lay. 

To you these few short lines belong, 

For, though from earth you've passed away, 
Your names shall fill the poet's song. 

Oh ye pure spirits, linger near, 

And hear my lay, though poor it be, 

And may your names, by all adored. 
Lend beauty to this melody. 



38 THE heart's M U S 1 n q s . 



THE INDIAN CHIEF'S REPLY TO 
HIS CAPTORS. 

I HAVE seen the blush of the rosy morn, 

As the sun was rising slow, 
I have seen the sky by the tempest torn. 

When the thunder muttered low. 

I have stood where the heaven's lightning 
flashed. 
And the winds did hideous roar ; 
I have stood where the mountain oak was 
crashed 
In the mighty torrent's pour. 

I have stood where the earth with thunders 
rang, 



THE heart's musings. 39 

And the forked lightning sped ; 
I have stood where the deadly broadsword's 
clang 
Seemed to number the very dead. 

I have stood unmoved, and without a fear 

I have seen my comrades fall : 
Do you think that the terrors you have here 

Can my inmost soul appal ? 

Back ! back ! vile slaves, I fear no death, 

For mercy I'll not cry ; 
I'll curse you with my latest breath, 

And with it you defy. 

Come with your torturing stake and brand. 

Bring all your powers now, 
For never will my heart's blood let 

My haughty spirit bow. 



40 THE HEARTS MUSINGS. 

No nerve shall shrink in this dark arm, 
My quick pulse shall not thrill ; 

I'll bend the knee before my God, 
But you I never will. 



THE heart's musings. 41 



L I F E . 

Swift onward flows the stream of time, 

And murmurs rapid by, 
And flows through its deep river's bed 

Into eternity. 

At first the stream runs rippHng on, 

But, as we further go, 
No more a lovely stream we see, 

But ocean's troubled throe. 

Upon the wave we launch our barque, 
By trouble's waves it's tossed, 

We sport a moment of the tide, 
Then are for ever lost. 



42 THE heart's musings. 

When we despair and think we sink, 

An angel hovers near, 
And guides our frail and shivering barque, 

When we the quicksands near. 

For mercy is that beauteous thing 

That wears a spirit's form, 
,And which always to us appears 

An angel 'mid the storm. 



THE HEARTS M U S I N (^ S . 



W A 8 H I N G T O N REFUSING 
A CROWN. 

Keep back your gifts, 1 hate the things 

That to a king belong, 
I've fought against proud royalty, 

And think I'd wear its crown ? 

The noblest gem that man could hold 

My God has sent to me ; 
'Tis this, t' have fought and to have won 

A nation's liberty. 

I've borne, unharmed, amid the storm, 

My nation's banner still, 
And I have drunk the sweetest cup 

That ever man could fill. 



44 THE heart's musings. 

The war is done, we've put to flight 

A hirehng's base brood ; 
1 wear the noblest, brightest wreath, 

A nation's gratitude. 

I've fought the fight, I war no more, 
My country's battle 's done, 

And British hearts shall thrill to hear 
The name of " Washington." 

1 ask no crown ; I've won a fame 
That's like the blazing sun. 

Sooner shall fade the name of earth 
Than that of " Washington." 

My flesh may crumble in the earth, 
My very bones may rot — 

There is one thing while earth exists 
That never '11 be forgot. 



While Freedom's banner proud shall wave, 

And men her praise extol, 
The name of " Washington" shall move 

With one unceasing roll. 



46 '! I r F M !•: a u r ' s m l s i n o s 



THOUGHTS 

SUGGESTED IN PASSING THROUGH A FORES'!' 
IN AUTUMN. 

" What is there gloomy in the forest 
leaves ?" 
What is there mournful in the autumn's 
air ? 
It is because their leaves on earth remind 
us, 
That soon our bodies must be slumbering 
there. 

It is because the trees are barren, 

And from their trunks the withered leaves 
now fall. 



THE heart's musings. 47 

Telling us in true but mournful numbers, 
This at last must be the fate of alL 

On the hills the grass has withered, 
Lone and dreary every hillock stands, 

All the trees, now bare and leafless, 
Grow like lone, deserted bands. 

So mankind must fade and perish 
'Neath the chilling wind of age ; 

Thus the old, the young, and graceful 
Quit us, weary of life's drama's page. 

Like the leaves that fall in autumn, 
On the earth we withered lie ; 

Though we blossom in the summer, 
In the winter fade and die. 

Life, indeed, is but a flower 

Fanned beneath the summer sky ; 



48 THE heart's musings. 

When the winter's blasts come nigh us, 
Like the flowers we must die. 

Though our joys be bright in summer, 
They must change and fade away ; 

Winter's blasts soon nip the flowers, 
Soon they fall and soon decay. 



THE heart's musings. 49 



THE NIGHT BEFORE VACATION. 

SUGGESTED ON BEING AT SCHOOL AT THE CLOSE 
OF A SESSION. 

There were sounds of mirth and joyousness 

Heard in the merry hall, 
And there was many a merry laugh, 

And many a merry call ; 
And the eye flashed bright with joyousness, 

For the morrow with joy was fraught, 
And many a heart felt light with glee 

And hope at the happy thought. 

They talked of pleasures at their right hand. 

And the joy that they would have, 
And the echoing sound of that happy band 



50 THE HEARTS MUSINGS. 

Made the school-room walls resound' 
For they drank the cup of pleasure, 

And the beaker was filled up high, 
And they thought of many a treasure, 

That for them was long stored by. 

What will you do to-morrow ? 

Was the oft repeated theme, 
And the gladness of to-morrow 

Was the upmost in their dream. 
They slept but little on that night, 

For their thoughts were all home. 
And what a source of pleasure 

Was for them in time to come. 

And the long expected morrow 

Dawned upon the schoolboy's sight, 

And then were to be realized, 
The dreams of yester-night : 



THE heart's musings. 51 

And their hearts beat high with gladness, 
As the morrow's morn drew nigh, 

And their hopes were fully realized 
When the morrow's sun was high. 



52 THE heart's musings. 



TO M- 



All things must change and fade away, 
Breathe but an hour, then turn and die, 

Be lost for ever from our present gaze, 
And melt into sweet memory. 

All joys must pass, all hopes must die, 
And leave us, ne'er to come again, 

For earth is fleeting, and its joys 
Must pass away, or end in pain. 

When we some object ask, and seek some one 

To love and cherish in our heart's sweet 

fears, 

Then they are snatched for ever from our 

hopes. 

And all our prospects too must end in tears. 



THE heart's musings. 53 

But it is truest when we weep and mourn, 
" For hope is fairest when it dawns from 
fears," 
And it is sweetest when we grieve 'mid 

" For love is loveliest when embalmed in 
tears." 

If we seem cold, is it our love that's chilled ? 
Can we in truth so soon forsake and part ? 
Ah no ! we cherish in our fond regard, 
As ever friendship can control the heart. 

For if we fade, and others take our place. 
We have remained as firm and ever 
true. 
For we have nourished every happy thought, 
And cherished hopes that in our anguish 
grew. 



54 THE heart's musings. 

Then blame me not, for you still hold no 
small 
Nor trifling place within my heart's 
regard, 
For dearly do I love to back recall 

The joys that nothing can again retard. 

Then may I trust again to meet thy hopes, 
And prove a blessing, not a curse to thee ? 

For all my thoughts are centred in one joy, 
To love and please thee fondlily. 



THE heart's musings. 55 



TO L- 



'Tis pleasant at least to our fond recollection 
To think that we hold a kind friend in affec- 
tion, 
For affection alone, and affection so sweet, 
Makes the heart of a mortal a sacred retreat ; 
While kindness, and love, and pure virtue 

combine 
To render it lovely and even divine. 
To love and be loved is the fate of our race, 
And love is not always enticed by the face, 
For beauty of heart far surpasses in grace 
The beauty of form and the well-modelled 

face. 
Our hearts, often thinking they're free from 
love's snare, 



5Q THE heart's musings. 

Are conquered and taken before they're 

aware. 
So keen is this archer, so shrewd and so 

sly, 
That he takes for his arrow the swift-darting 

eye, 
And the eye, that mischievous and twinkling 

thing, 
Is tipped with a feather from beauty's bright 

wing. 
For what is there roguish on earth or in 

sky, 
That is not concealed in a sparkling black 

eye? 
Or what is there lovely, devoted, and true, 
That does not shine forth in the mild eye of 

blue ? 
And whether the arrow be black or be 
blue. 



THE heart's musings. 5*7 

'Tis aimed by the archer too piercing and 

true, 
That no heart can withstand it, however so 

hard. 
Nor no breast so inhuman that can it retard. 



3* 



TO S. C. S. 

When some kind friend has told to us 
A sweet remembrance of a thing we love, 

Should we not then a grateful tribute give, 
When all our feelings in sweet concert 
move ? 

You said that you again my muse inspired : 
What better object could I have than thee ? 

For all my thoughts come gladly rushing on, 
When once in motion they are set by 
thee. 

Should we be blamed if we did purely love ? 
Or if we're blamed, can it be quenched by 
aught 



THE heart's musings. 59 

That others bear with jealous hand, to blast 
Our hopes, and bring our dearest joys to 
naught. 

If youthful love is but a thing of air, 

And quickly fades 'neath gloomy sorrow's 
sun, 

Why is our heart— that little beating thing? 
If we affection's race were ne'er to run. 

O may you then, when I would sink in grief, 
And dimly burns my dull poetic fire. 

Like a kind angel ever bring relief. 

And with new zeal my languid muse 
inspire. 



60 THE heart's musings. 



TO MY TEACHER. 

Whene'er affection strongly binds 
The hearts we love so firm and true. 

To ours there always is a love, 
That every favor must renew, 

And make the hearts, like heaven above, 
Shine with the rays of truest love. 

To have a friend on whom to trust, 
On whom to lean in weal or woe. 

Is a kind heaven-born blessing sent, 
To cheer us on while here below, 

And throw around the darkest night, 
A halo of eternal light. 

Who, that has ever roamed in lands. 
That far are stretched beyond the sea. 



THE heart's musings. 61 

Has never missed the kindred bands 

Of friends' serene society, 
And never found, while pressed with grief, 

The cup of love to bring relief? 

Oh what a pang it strikes to lose 
A friend, in whom we place our all. 

Or mingle with our cup of Life, 

The bitter draught of trouble's gall ; 

For ne'er the place can we supply. 
Of friends whom our affections try. 



Can fancied bliss in lines portray 

The sad reality of Life, 
Or can imagination gild 

The lowering clouds of angry strife. 
Or lend one ray to light the past. 

Or heighten joys too bright to last ? 



62 THE heart's musings. 

Can we, in fancy's gilded car, 

Change aught of future bliss or woe, 

Or can we change one moment's grief, 
For that of joy ? ah no, ah no, 

For life must be a life alone, 

The griefs we have are all our own. 



HEAVEN OUR FINAL RESTING^ 
PLACE. 

This earth is changing, and its scenes 
Can never give a true delight, 

For joy alone is found in heaven, 
And truth alone in realms of light. 

Our earth-born pilgrimage is short. 
Full long enough for all its woes, 

For soon with joy we'll leave its course, 
And bid farewell to friends and foes. 

Soon we must lay our bodies down, 
Calmly on the earth's green vest, 
But then a voice from heaven cries, 
" Arise, arise, 'tis not your rest." 



64 



Where is our rest ! 'tis not on earth, 
A fairer land awaits our souls, 

Where from the founts of endless love, 
A living water rolls. 



THE heart's musings. 65 



ON HEARING OF THE DEFEAT OF 
THE HUNGARIANS. 

Immortal Hungary ! thy name shall stand, 
Enrolled on Freedom's banner yet, 

And every nation, every land, 

Thy well-fought contest ne'er '11 forget. 

Though pressing nations have thee crushed, 
And tyrants held their sway o'er thee ; 

Though from thy veins the life-blood gushed, 
Thou wilt hereafter still be free. 

When tyrants did thy arms o'erpower, 
Did Heaven look down unconscious then ? 

No ! God was mindful of the hour, 

When thy brave heroes died like men. 



66 THE heart's musings. 

In every land 'neath heaven's air, 

Where Freedom proudly holds her own, 

For thee was many a heartfelt prayer 
Sent upward to the heavenly throne. 

Though hordes of Slaves came down on 

thee. 
The Magyars did not die in vain : 

I hear the voice of Prophecy, 
" Brave nation, thou'lt be free again." 

Though far in lands across the sea, 

Where millions dwell uncrushed and free, 

Brave hearts will beat and pray for thee. 
For thee — Immortal Hungary. 



THE heart's musings. 67 



THE VISION. 

In my walks at even tide, 
Strolling by the river side. 

Just it was when new-born night, 
Drove away the realms of light ; 

Rapt in solitude, my mind 
Left the cares of Earth behind, 

And it soared to yonder sky, 
Th' abode of pure tranquillity ; 

As I gazed, with eager eye, 
On the starry canopy, 



68 THE heart's musings. 

In mine eye there came a tear, 
Like the stars in heaven clear, 

Like the dew it gently fell, 
On the gay and grassy dell. 

" Tis sad," said I, " to fade and die, 
Far from such tranquillity. 

When will our sad course be run, 
And our earth-born life be done. 

When the happy day so bright. 
To our souls shall bring delight ; 

When our wearied limbs shall rest 
Calmly, on the earth's green breast : 

Must I, holy Father, die, 
'Neath this awful mystery ; 



THE heart's musings. 69 

Must I leave this vale of woe, 
Nor the solemn secret know T' 

While I thus in spirit prayed, 

Soon my musings quick were stayed. 

For, as coming from the sky, 
A fair angel met my eye. 

Sweet and pure was her eye, 
Faultless was her symmetry. 

She nearer drew and then she spoke, 
And with her voice the stillness broke. 

" When injustice grim shall cease, 
And all nations be at peace ; 

Then descending from above, 
Christ, the only God of love. 



70 THE heart's musings. 

Far shall drive the gathering gloom 
From the unregarded tomb." 

Then upon my spirit fell, 
Pleasure inexpressible. 

Thence I gaily then departed, 
With no sigh, but happy-hearted. 



It was a custom at Athens on a festival celebrated 
annually in honor of Vulcan, to have a race of the follow- 
ing manner. Three young men were chosen as competi- 
tors; the first one, also chosen by lot to take his turn, took 
a lighted torch in his hand and began his course. If the 
torch was extinguished before he arrived at the goal, he 
made way for the second competitor and gave the torch to 
him. If the second in like manner failed, he made way for 
the third. If any one, through fear of extinguishing the 
torch by too violent exertions, relaxed his pace, the spec- 
tators struck him with the palms of their hands in order to 
urge him on. 



We start in Life, our torch burns light, 
And onward press we to the goal. 
While urging all our powers on, 
Honor engrosses all our soul. 



72 THE heart's musings. 

Soon we must sink into the grave 
Another one then takes our place, 
And Hke as we, with vigor strives 
If he may gain th' appointed race. 

But he, alas ! no better fares, 
His hfe, like ours, was all a dream. 
And loses as about to grasp 
The honors that so easy seem. 

So race on race, in turn succeeds, 
So they are carried to the grave. 
And all for the same honor strive. 
The proud, the wise, the good, the brave. 

What is our life ? a thing of air, 
A race, an anxious, hurried flight, 
For ere we reach, or gain the prize, 
We sink in dark, oblivious night. 



THE heart's musings. 73 

What do we seek, where do we rush ? 
From Ufe to death we hurry on ; 
And sinking to the silent grave, 
Are lost and are for ever gone. 

Let us, then, if we must struggle, 
Strive for an immortal wreath, 
Which will live when we are faded. 
Which will conquer even death. 



74 THE HEARTS MUSINGS. 



" I am losing more than Life, I am losing Immortality." 

[These were the last words of a young painter, who expired of a 
fever amid the marshes of a southern clime. ] 

My Life, my Life, oh what is that ! 

A frail and fleeting thing, 
Its pleasures are but shadows, 

On time's remorseless wing. 

I fear not all the pangs of death 

I fear not now to die, 
I'd gladly give my latest breath 

For immortality. 

A fame, a fame, undying fame. 

Is all my spirit sought. 
And here I die without a name, 

My pencil strove for naught. 



THE heart's musings, 75 

And must I die ? is there no hope ? 

Unhonored must I die ? 
I cannot, will not, shall not part 

With immortality. 

Here in a foreign land alone 

I sink into the grave, 
Unknown, uncared for, must I die 

In lands across the wave. 

It is not Life I wish for now, 
'Tis not from Death I fly, 

" For I am losing more than Life, 
'Tis immortahty." 



76 THE heart's musings. 



TO S. C. S. 

As on the sterile mountain side, 
Blows soft the fair wild rose, 

So in the rocky paths of Life, 
The flower of friendship grows. 

As down upon the thirsty earth 
The dew of Heaven descends, 

So falls upon the soul of man 
The kindness of his friends. 

As when the almost drooping earth 

The little rain revives, 
So friendship, when 'tis kindly brought, 

Adds freshness to our lives. 



THE heart's musings. 77 

It is indeed but gratitude, 
Where'er our footsteps roam, 

To think of those who kindness show 
When we are far from home. 

Thy kindness shown in sickness' hour, 
When pains my brow beset. 

Thy watchful eye, thy aiding power, 
I never shall forget. 



TO J. S., Esa. 

O, COULD I say the power were mine, 

To wake the note thou lovest to hear, 
And breathe with joy each new-born thought, 

Into thy fondly-hstening ear; 
To tell thee all I know or feel, 

O, 'twere a task for tongue too dear, 
But may my muse its power engage, 

Thy name to tell, thy praise to rear. 
To me the torch of life burns bright. 

And hope her banner holds to me. 
While all my life is but delight. 

My hopes and fancies wander free. 
Now, oh ! how vain and trivial seem 

The pleasures that I prized before, 
For by thy precepts thou hast taught, 



THE heart's musings. '79 

My God and Maker to adore. 
And when my steps, with faltering pace, 

Are struggling on through doubt and strife, 
Oh ! may they prove, as time rolls on, 

The pathway to eternal life ; 
When God shall guide thy soul above, 

By the sweet paths of heavenly love ; 
When the vain cares of life depart, 

And gladsome praises swell thy heart. 
Then may each word, each note you raise, 

Burst forth in pealing hymns of praise ; 
May soon my soul at God's great shrine. 

My friend and teacher, rest with thine ! 



80 THE heart's musings 



NO ROSE BUT HATH ITS THORN. 

Life hath its scenes of joy or woe, 
Nor can we hope for none alloy, 

Life were too drear if all were woe — 
Too dear by far if all were joy. 

They say no rose but hath its thorn, 
And we admit that saying right, 

They'd better say a happy morn 
Oft follows close a gloomy night. 

There is no night but hath its morn. 
However sad that night may be. 

There is no hope, howe'er forlorn. 
But ends in pure felicity. 



THE heart's musings. 81 



TO MY MOTHER. 

When, mother, on thy tender breast 

I laid to rest my infant head, 
You gently sang your boy to sleep, 

And thus the burden of the prayers you said ; 

" O God, protect my boy from harm. 

When threat'ning dangers hang around, 
O keep him safe in life's sad way, 
_2:When cares and evils him surround." 

When I express or 'tempt to tell, 

How deep's my love, my mother dear, 

My heart forbids to tell the tale, 
My gushing eye drops forth a tear. 



4* 



S2 THE HEART S MUSINGS. 



WRITTEN AFTER BEING CHARGED 
WITH INGRATITUDE. 

Though you, perchance, think I have less 

Of true affection than the rest, 

There is no heart, howe'er so kind, 

Will ever leave me far behind ; 

A heart to thee, more firm and true. 

Ne'er from the breast of mortal grew. 

Nor cruel sword, nor poisoned dart, 

Nor burning brand, nor scourging rude, 

A deeper pang could ne'er impart. 

Than that of my ingratitude. 

I will confess that I have shown 

An ill respect by look and tone : 

I ask forgiveness, if I can, 

For know that I am but a man. 



THE heart's musings. 83 

No cruel blow could ever sweep 
A furrow in my heart so deep 
As this, to say, regardless I 
Have passed thy kindly favors bye ; 
My looks no more shall give offence, 
All shall be love and reverence. 
And never aught but in my praise. 
May mortals e'er their voices raise. 



84 THE heart's musings. 



THE D R E A M O F H E A V E N . 

It was night, and o'ercome by the cares of 
the world, 

My spirit in slumber was wrapt, 

When Fancy her gaily tinged banner un- 
furled, 

And visions of joy hovered light o'er my 
soul. 

I dreamed of a land far away from our sight, 

Where Pleasures unceasingly flow. 

Where the presence of God gives eternal 

delight. 
In the land where no mortal can go. 

I dreamed that in council around His great 
throne, 



I II E heart's musings. 86 

The host of high Heaven were joined, 

To ransom the fallen from sins all their own, 

And restore him the favor of God. 

And who of that host would willingly make 

An atonement for poor fallen man. 

And the sins of a world upon him would 

take. 
To save him from Death and from Hell. 

I dreamed that the pure immaculate Lamb, 
The only*^begotten of God, 
Addressing the holy immortal " I Am," 
Spake in spirit so humble and true : 

Oh ! Father who rulest the heaven and earth. 

The air and the loud-roaring sea, 

At the sound of whose voice sprang the 

world into birth, 
And from Chaos the Universe came. 



I willingly go from my seat at thy side, 
And assume a mere mortal's disguise, 
To recall fallen man, now ruined with pride, 
And to bring him to heaven and thee. 

Oh ! Father, then suffer upon me to fall 

Thy just indignation and wrath, 

For the sins of the Past, of the Present, 

and all 
Of mankind that are yet to exist. 

He left his bright throne in the heavens on 

high. 
Made flesh, of a Virgin was born, 
And came to this earth to suffer and die, 
For the sins of a world, not his own. 



THE heart's musings. 87 



RELIGION. 

When Life's dull stream shall cease to flow, 
And death shall call our souls away, 
Thou giv'st to Life a parting glow, 
And kindl'st darkness into day. 

Thou beacon-light, thou thing divine, 
Thou holy spirit kindly given. 
Thou shalt not rest on Earth's dull shrine. 
But lead our souls to God and Heaven. 

Without thee life were but a. sea. 

Where naught but clouds were spread 

around, 
But oh ! thou ever still wilt be 
A light to us while heavenward bound. 



88 THE heart's musings. 

Thou soul-inspiring, holy thought, 
When out from Eden man was driven 
Thou wert a spirit kindly brought 
To give to him a taste of Heaven. 



THE heart's musings. 89 



THOUGHTS ON THE DEATH OF 
MY GRANDFATHER. 

All, all was still, the lifeless wreck, 
Of that once manly form before 
Me lay. The lips on which I had 
So oft impressed the loving kiss 
Were cold ; he lay upon his couch 
A lifeless corse. His cold, dull limbs 
Lay stretched before, in sleepless 
Helplessness of death. And those 
Fond ears, which had so often heard 
My boyish prattle, were stopped for ever. 
Then prayed I in the fervor of 
My love, that his kind soul might dwell 
In yon fair land above, where naught 
Of care dims aught of his delight. 



90 THE heart's musings 



I WOULD WE NE'ER HAD MET 
AGAIN. 

I WOULD we ne'er had met again ! 
Th}^ form no more may see, 
For then a shadow haunts my brain, 
'Tis all but love to thee. 

O, how can you your faith restore, 
' Like that I once thought fair, 
I looked and saw my soul once more, 
And w^hat a change was there. 

Yes ! it was sad as desert plain, 
Mournful as midnight sea, 
And yet I ne'er would have again 
A single thought of thee. 



THE heart's musings. 91 



OH! IF THOU WILT STILL KEEP 
THINE HEART. 

O, IF thou wilt still keep thine heart, 

Give back mine then to me, 

And bid thy mem'ry thence depart, 

And leave me, as once, free. 

If 'tis thy choice I'll not repine, 

Nor think myself outcast, 

But hope that love will win me thine, 

By its deep truths at last. 



92 THE heart's musing 



HOME. 

An, where is home ? 'Tis where the woods 
Their leaves are waving to the summer's air, 
Where rippUng streams lead down the hills 
A vein of light. 'Tis there, 'tis there. 

Where we have spent our youthful days, 
Untouched, unharmed by every thought of 

care. 
Where we have slept beneath the gentle 

trees 
That shook with joy — 'Tis there, 'tis there. 

Where we are loved, and where for us. 
With evening's air a mother's gentle prayer, 
For our own good and future joy. 
Ascends to God — 'Tis there, 'tis there. 



THE heart's musings. 93 

The spirit of its love is borne 
On every sound that comes upon the air, 
Where in the strain of kindred song 
A hymn ascends — 'Tis there, 'tis there. 



A MOTHER. 

What friend on earth have we so dear, 

So gentle, kind, and true. 

As her to whom we owe our Hfe, 

And by whose care we grew. 

'Tis hers in silent tears to weep. 

And willingly to shed 

The riches from affection's deep 

Upon our guilty head. 

When all the world looks dark around, 
When all our friends are gone, 
'Tis hers to cheer our footsteps on, 
And smile when others frown ; 
'Tis hers untired to be found 
Beside the bed^of pain, 



THE heart's musings. £ 

With heart inspired and breast of hope, 
To cool the fevered brain. 

To love through all, in weal or woe, 

Whate'er our fate may be, 

To light our path with cheering glow, 

And love so fondlily, 

A mother ! how unhappy he 

Who is without thy care, 

Oh ! how avaiUng must it be, 

A mother's heartfelt prayer. 



USIN GS. 



It was a beautiful saying of Mr. Burke, uttered in the 
speech before the House of Commons, " What shadows 
we are, and what shadows are we pursuing !" 



Yes, shadows we are, 

And what shadows we seek. 

And vain is our worldly delight ; 

We land on this earth 

For a moment, then fly 

To a home far more fair and more bright. 

We are caught at a glance, 

By the earth's luring joys, 

And eager we rush for the prize ; 

The moment we think 

It is held in our grasp, 

'Tis snatched from our vain-seeking eyes. 



THE HEAUT's musings. 9? 

What shadows we are, 

And what shadows we seek, 

We Hve on the earth for a day. 

We breathe for a moment 

In joy and dehght, 

Then vanish for ever away. 

Then why, then oh, why, 
Should we spend all our life 
For a thing that is passing away, 
Forgetting that soon 
We must change this vile form 
For one that will never decay. 

When the soul wings its flight 

To a land of delight, 

Where naught can disturb our repose; 

What heeds the cold clay, 



98 THE heart's musings. 

That is passing away, 

For the presence of friends or of foes ! 

O ! then let us give 
All our thoughts while we live. 
To our last and our final estate ; 
For soon we must fade 
From the earth like a shade, 
To meet with an unending fate. 



THE heart's musings. 99 



TO J. T. M. 

ON HIS EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY. 

So thou art now eighteen, 
And thy course of Life has yet, 
Perchance, run smooth, while by 
The ripples of thy stream flowed 
Calm. And long may it continue 
So. But our sad destinies and 
Fates forbid, and those we love 
May change and fade away. 

So now a 
Fond farewell and o'er life's drear 
And wearying track think oft of 
Me, and say you have a friend 
Whose heart is linked with thine and 
Feels your sorrows as his own. 



100 THE HEARTS MUSINGS 



GENTLE READER, HAST THOU 
LOVED ? 

Has thy cheek, with troubled thought, 
Varied tints of crimson caught ? 
From thy voice has thrilled a tone, 
Never to thy childhood known ? 
Has thy heart within thee moved ? 
Gentle reader, thou hast loved. 

Hast thou had thy kind thoughts wasted ? 
Hast thou had thy young hopes blasted ? 
Hast thou e'er felt sad and lone ? 
Painted visions not thine own ? 
Hast thou shed thy tears like rain ? 
Reader, thou hast loved in vain. 



THE heart's musings. 101 



I'D WEEP O'ER JOYS THAT 
LEAVE ME. 

I'd weep o'er joys that leave me, 
If friends should leave me too, 
If all then should deceive me, 
And prove, like thee, untrue. 

But while I've friends around me 
With hearts so gay and bright. 
No clouds thou'lt cast around me. 
But love will turn to light. 

It is not thine to harm me, 
While fate leaves friends to me ! 
Nor is it thine to charm me, 
Nor cause one tear for thee. 



102 THE heart's musings. 

And though the only hope be gone, 
That long sparkled o'er my way. 
Oh ! I will gladly journey on, 
More safe without its ray. 

Far better lights shall win me 
On the path I've yet to roam ; 
And the mind that burns within me 
Keep its smiles for those at home. 



THE hejlrt's musings. 103 



TO A YOUNG MARRIED FRIEND. 

Now thou hast received the token 
Of a love that cannot die, 
And the holy words once spoken 
Are now registered on high. 
A father's hand conferred thee 
On the one that thou didst love, 
To guard and to protect thee. 
Till thou'rt called to dwell above. 
May his arm for e'er protect thee, 
Thou, the object of his choice ; 
And thou for ever cheer him 
By thy mild and gentle voice. 



TO M . 

Life ! what is life, is it to long and die ? 
To weep, look back, and to endure ? 
Is there indeed no hope for us to try ? 
Is there forsooth a grief that hath no cure ? 

Is it to look forth from our childish years 
Into the future ? and then with amaze 
Tp shrink and find our refuge but in tears ? 
When we at last have reached those longed- 
for days. 

Is it to love and find our love but clay ? 
To dream of bliss and wake to mourn ? 
To joy one hour, then fade away, 
And never reach imagination's bourn ? 



THE heart's musings. 105 

Ah, no! indeed, it is to gladly fly 

From every thought of sorrow's gloomy 

stage ; 
To learn with joy to check each bitter cry, 
And look but lightly on our drama's page. 

But human aid may fail — Thou'lt not mis- 
trust, 

Nor wilt thou flutter — faith and love will 
stay, 

When hopes seem drooped, drooped to the 
very dust. 

And lead us on to many a happier day. 

Then we look up, though storm-drops wet 

our face ; 
And lift our souls, though thunders echo 

round. 

The lightning's rapid feet may not keep pace 
5* 



106 THE heart's musings* 

With our soul's prayer, ascending without 
sound. 

Oft thou, Hke twihght and a gentle calm, 
Steal'st o'er my spirit, with a soothing love, 
Seeming to be a beauteous, blessed balm. 
Sent to impart a radiance from above. 

When as the light fades to a sombre hue. 
And the fair sky is wrapt in shadows dark. 
Then Venus gaily beaming meets my view, 
And her chaste rays are all my eyes can 
mark. 

And when her gentle lustre thus I see. 
Then turns my memory, Mary, unto thee ; 
For this it pictures hours of woe and gloom. 
Which thy kind smile and words did well 
illume. 



THE heart's musings. 107 

Oh, may thy hfe, Mary, be calm and blest 
Like this just ended day be holy rest ; 
And when death's dimness steals thine eye- 
lids o'er, 
Then star-like may thy spirit shine and soar. 



108 THE heart's musings. 



IF 1 LOSE THEE I AM LOST.' 

I INDEED would lonely be, 
Wafted o'er life's treacherous sea. 
By the troubled tempest tossed : 
" If I lose thee I am lost." 

When the northern star is beaming, 
And the winter's moon is gleaming, 
I think of thee, my fairest boast ; 
" If I lose thee I am lost." 

When the northern light is blazing, 
And to heaven its red top raising, 
I think of thee while onward tossed ; 
" If I lose thee I am lost." 



THE heart's musings. 109 



TO J. S., ESQ. 

Thy kindness and affection 

Round my heart have cast a chain, 
Which naught but death can sever, 

And no power break in twain. 

Nor ask why 'tis I love thee ; 

Ask the star why 'tis it shines ! 
And ask why 'tis the ivy 

Round the towering oak entwines. 

What power but death could part us, 

The hearts that love has bound, 
Th' abode of true affection, 
, Where she always may be found ? 



110 THE heart's musings. 

Thou hast pointed oft to heaven, 

And told me of my God ; 
And said that I, beset with snares, 

A dangerous pathway trod. 

When kneeling down beside my bed, 
My youthful prayers ascend, 

That God to thee, in suffering hour. 
Would his holy spirit send. 

And when upon life's giddy stream 
I'll launch my little boat, 

'Twill be owing to thy watchful care 
That little bark will float. 

And when in death's eternal sleep 
Mine eyes shall lose their light, 

O may thy name be on my lips. 
When my spirit wings its flight. 



THE heart's musings. Ill 



CUPID'S ACCIDENT. 

FROM ANACREON. 

Cupid, once roaming round, thought he would 

go 
Among the fair rose-covered bowers ; 

For never before did the bow-bearer know 

That thorns are oft found hid in flowers. 

So he came to a rose that he thought very 
sweet, 
On plucking it there he was bent ; 
But oh! what a shocking mishap did he 
meet, 
Which very soon stopped his intent. 



112 THE heart's musings. 

Then running, and flying, and flapping his 
wings, 
To the goddess Cythera, so bright : 
Oh mother! a great winged monster, that 
stings. 
Has almost made me dead with affright. 

Then, smiling, his mother rebuking him 
spake : 
" If the sting of the bee pains thee so. 
How much more is the pain that you, Cupid, 
make, 
In the hearts that you shoot with your 

bow r 



T HE I! E A KT 



MUSINGS. 113 



AT THE CLOSE OF A SESSION AT 
SCHOOL. 

We go, sweet frier-ds, to our homes so dear, 
Where our memory loves to dwell : 

But the tie of love that binds us here 
Holds with too deep a spell. 

We go to our household fires and friends, 
To our own sweet homes again, 

And our parting tear with friendship blends ; 
We hope to meet again. 

We now are gathered gay around, 

A joyous and a happy band. 
And seem to be by friendship bound. 

Emblems of a better land. 



114 THE heart's musings. 

The ties that bind us firmly here 
Are Friendship, Truth, and Love, 

Bright spirits from a happy sphere, 
The reahns of bliss above. 

The brightest joys that Friendship gives, 
The pleasures to us she lends, 

Have brightly shone on our school-boy lives 
Then let us part like friends. 

If aught of strife has entered in. 

And ceased our love to flow, 
May you to love again begin. 

And smile before we go. 

Our blessed Savior thus commands : 

" Let not the sun go down, 
Nor take his course in western lands. 

Upon your angry frown." 



THE heart's musings. 115 

The night of death may soon draw near, 

The sun of hfe go down, 
And ere we shall again meet here, 

Be sleeping in the ground. 

Then let us join our hands, sweet friends, 

And hearts in social love ; 
And if with us the life-day ends. 

We'll meet again above. 



1 1 G THE heart's musings. 



IDA, 

OR A TALE OF THE FALL OF TROV. 

The sun went down o'er Mount Ida's height, 
Reflecting a flush of mellow light : 
And the moon arose in her splendor bright, 
Softening the gloom of the dark midnight ; 
While the gentle stars came peeping forth, 
With their lovely Queen, the Star of the 

North. 
On the summit of Ida the lofty trees 
Moved their old green tops to the eveniiTg 

breeze : 
E'en nature herself seemed to court repose, 
In the calm, sweet hour of twilight's close. 
The foe had departed, the city, once free. 
Gave vent to her joy in a jubilee. 



THE heart's musings. 117 

And the pipe and the dance wore the night 

away, 
Till the moon arose to her midnight way : 
Then, weary, they sought their couch of 

rest, 
And their sleep with tranquil dreams was 

blest ; 
For the foe and the stranger dwell not in 

their breast. 

But one in that city dreamed not of sleep, 
For her heart was too full, in her grief, to 

weep; 
As she clasped her babe to her throbbing 

breast, 
Sleeping so sweetly in innocent rest. 
To Ceres she prayed long and deep for 

relief : 
" Oh thou, who knowest a mother's grief, 



118 THE heart's musings. 

Who hast drunk the dregs of the fennel's 

leaf, 
To thee does a mother now send a prayer 
For the innocent babe that is slumbering 

here ; 
A fatherless one o'er the world he may go, 
To struggle with cares for his weal or his 

woe. 
May his father's spirit his course command, 
Till the murderers fall by his own right 

hand." 
As thus she prayed in her accents wild, 
The babe awoke and sweetly smiled. 

At the dawn of morn no sound was heard, 
In the lady's chamber no footstep stirred ; 
And they entered the place where the lady 

slept ; 
The hardest-hearted drew back and wept. 



THE heart's musings. 119 

The baby was drawing his infant breath, 
But the lady was wrapt in the arms of death. 
The spirit had left this earthly clod 
For the land which no mortal on earth hath 

trod. 
In the height of her grief her soul had ta'en 
A place of rest far away from pain. 



J 20 THE H E A R T 'S MUSINGS 



COLUMBUS DISCOVERING 
AMERICA. 

'TwAS night-fall on the sea; 
No wind came stealing o'er the ocean wave, 
Nor tossed the surface of the billowv sea : 
The stars were twinkling in their azure 

dome, 
And sparkling with their gentle rays upon 
The ocean deep. The lovely moon, in her 
Nocturnal course, had crossed the line that's 

stretched 
From either pole, and was e'en now in her 
Majestic way unto her resting-place. 
For sixty days the ships had sailed west. 
And naught of land met their expectant 

gaze. 



THE heart's musings. 121 

The wearied shipmen trembled in alarm, 
Lest they for the last time had seen their 

home, 
With its sweet flowers and green fields, and 

the 
Fair hills of sunny Spain, which oft had 
Re-echoed to their hearts' light laughter ; 
For the last time they thought they'd fallen 

on 
Th' adoring knee before their Maker's throne ; 
And were about to yield their bodies to 
The dust, from whence they came. 
No sound disturbed the calm tranquillity of 

ocean ; 
Sleepless, below, lay the leader of that 
Adventurous band, and in his mantle 

wrapped 
Thought o'er and o'er the dangers of his 

course : 



122 THE heart's musings. 

Hark ! he starts, he listens, and rushes to 

the deck. 
Louder and louder on the winds of heaven 
Is borne the cry of *' Land ! land !" He 

lists again, 
He hears 'tis true, and with a burst of joy- 
He tells his comrades, " It is land !" 

The morning dawned, and with the sun he 

saw 
The wished-for land, and upon his knees he 
Rendered thanks to God, and sang the 

Hymn of joyful praise. 



THE heart's musings. 123 



MARCO BOZZARIS'S WELCOME TO 
DEATH. 

Thou'et welcome, Death ; thou bring'st no 
pain ; 

My soul long pines for thee ; 
Thou'rt welcome in thy direst forms, 

When 'tis for liberty. 
I hear thee in the battle shout ; 

I see thee in the smoke ; 
I hear thee in the proud hurrah, 

And in the sabre stroke. 

'Tis liberty that makes thee sweet. 

And horror 's from thee fled ; 
Thy awful terrors down have lain, 

With beauty overspread ; 
The answer of my parting soul, 



124 THE heart's musings. 

It hails thee as its own ; 
My heart hath echoes yet for thee, 
Thou dread but welcome sound. 

They leave me now ; the flowers are dim, 

And all their beauties past ; 
The sun sends down another light, 

But 'tis with glory cast. 
Then welcome, O thou summoner ! 

Hear my last cry again, 
" To fight and die for liberty 

Is pleasure, not a pain." 



TO . 

Dream not of truth, it is not here ; 

The heart of love may fade ; 
The eyes that once with joy were clear 

Will vanish as a shade. 

The friendship bound by many a tie, 
To part it none had power ; 

The love that seemed to never die 
May vanish in an hour. 

Speak not of love, it is not here ; 

It dwells far, far away ; 
That angel-spirit comes not here, 

To soothe this heart of clay. 



126 THE HEART S MUSINGS. 

If, in some distant land from this, 

Some kinder one I've met, 
Not all the forms of joy or bliss 

Shall teach me to forget. 

If all the joys of earth were mine; 

Or dangers me beset ; 
The looks, the love, the smiles of thine, 

I never can forget. 



¥'H E HEARTHS MUSINGS, 121 



TO 



ON THE PRESENTATION OF A RING, 

Accept this token of regard- 
When cares around thee hover, and 
The storms of life beat high, 

gaze on tliis and say, I — 

1 too am loved. 

Friendship, they say, is endless. 
So is this token, and so 

May be om's, now just kindling"; 

And when we shall have separately 

'Gone forth upon life's way. 

Calling each other's mem'ries, may we say, 

We have been friends together. 



128 THE H E A R T '"s M U S I N G Sv 



"THE LAST OF THE PEQUODS." 

O Muse ! to me, with all thy lovely grace, 
Say what became af that once noble race ; 
How they were driven from their native* 

shore, 
Till, one by one, they left to come no more- 

L 

The sun had sunk o'er yonder hill. 
And calm the little river's rill, 
And fast o'er earth the hazel shade 
By gloomy night was quickly made * 
And on the wings of heaven borne. 
Was heard the lonely owlet's mourn. 
Which echoing through the peaceful dale,- 
Seemed as to taint the very gale 'r 



I'ME fiElRT^S MUSINGS. 129 

^he moon, her course ascending high^ 

Had gaily tinged the eastern sky^ 

And to the adjacent mountains lent 

Th' appearance of a battlement ; 

The toil-worn Indian sought his rest,— 

No stately coiich, — the earth's green vest 

Was what his spirit liked the best : 

No kingly canopy was given 

To guard him from the midnight dew^ 

But the serene majestic heaven, 

With its star-spangled vault of blue. 

Scarce had they, wearied, sought repose, 

When from the distant hills arose 

The rifle's deadly crash. 

Then came the pale-faced loud hurrah^ 

As when the thundering tempests roar. 

And drive the waves from shore to shore* 

The Indians started from their sleep. 

Forth with their deadly war-whoop leap, 
6* 



130 THE HEARTS MUSINGS. 

To meet the invading foe, and fight 
l^or Hfe, and homes, and native right* 
The arrow's aim was true and good, 
The deadly tomahawk drank blood ; 
Then, like the storm-clouds from on high 
Strike the huge oak, the shepherds fly 
Affrighted, hurrying o'er the plain, 
And seek to hide themselves in vain : 
Just so the remnants of that band, 
Once called the noblest in the land, 
Fled onward fast in rapid course, 
Like reeds before the tempest tossed, 
And like the waves of sparkling foam, 
Right onward did the invaders come. 
Then by the light each musket bright 
Reflected thousand gleams of light, 
And then was heard the deadly clang, 
As if the earth with thunders rang, 
And bravely did the red men fight, 
Till morning broke the dark midnight. 



l-HE heart's musings, 131 

But when the morning came again, 

That little band had died in vain : 

The battle ceased, and naught was heard 

Save the shrill whistle of the wind, 
Or the lone chirp of some wild bird, 

Whose mate had left in flight behind. 



II 



THE BATTLE FIELD. 

There were the dying there ; 
The wounded rent with cries the air ; 
There stood a man alone, 
Friends, kindred, all were gone : 
He stood, the last of all his race, 
In the dark, awful, charnel place ; 
Then in his grief his hands he wrung, 
And in his wild, wild accents sung : 



132 THE heart's housings.' 

" They are gone, they are gone, 
To their last hunting-ground. 

And their spirits have flown 

To a land of their own, 

Where pleasures for ever abound. 

" They have flown, they have flown. 
From the cares of the earth, 
And their spirits are borne 
Where they'll never be torn 
By the cares of a mortal birth: 

" They have fought, they have died's 
For their own native land ; 

As they fought in their pride. 

So they fell, side by side, 
A free and a glorious band." 

His wild notes died away in air 



THE heart's musings. ISS 

tor none but the singer alone was there. 
With his hands upraised to heaven, began : 
" Great Spirit ! the Father of God and man, 
Wilt thou never to us lend thy powerful aid^ 
Shall the red man fade away like a shade ? 
Shall the cold earth be his last, last bed. 
And the white man be with his murder fed? 
Shall never again the resounding wood 
Re-echo with songs to the Indians' God ? 
Shall the base invader this region sway, 
And the native-born his power obey ? 
Shall he never in peace his bow-string drawy 
Nor wildly rove, as his nature's law ? 
Shall he never plunge in the rippling flood, 
Or bound through the heath in search of 

food? 
And now, as my kinsmen and friends are 

gone, 
O ! lead me hence where they have flown > 



With my own brave nation, O let me die, 
In free and unfettered liberty !" 
And he died then free, with his nation brave> 
And the wild- wood was the Indian's grave. 
The wind swept on in gentle force, 
And covered with leaves the Indian's corse> 
The wild birds sung o'er his cold, cold clay, 
When his spirit for ever had passed away ; 
No taunts would offend him, however unjust, 
For the last of the Pequods had crumbled to 
dust. 



1?HE heart's musings. 135 



TO A FRIEND. 

1 REMEMBER oiice reflecting, 

When the moon was shining bright, 
And the Httle stars of even 

Gave forth their twinkhng Hght. 

As I cast my gaze to heaven, 

A tear stood in my eye ; 
And that prayer was oft repeated, 

And my bosom heaved a sigh. 

For I thought of many dangers 
That your after-path must cross, 

And I thought of many tempests 
That your httle bark should toss. 

And while I was yet gazing 
On the upper liquid air, 



l36 THE heart's MtSiiJGSi 

A little star, going forward, 
Shot from its fastenings there. 

Methought I saw it spreading, 
And shedding brilliant light, 

Till the heavens were illumined j 
Then it vanished from my sighti 

1 imagined 'twas a harbinger 
Of thy future destined way ; 

And I prayed you might hereafter 
Kindle darkness into day. 

And now, when we have parted, 
Oh ! cast a thought on me, 

In pleasure's joyous circle, 
Or dark solemnity. 



THE heart's musings. 1S7 

And remember how that once we did 
In school-boys' gay throng dwell ; 

And as you soon shall leave me., 
I bid thee now farewell. 



A DREAM. 



TO 



'TwAs on a summer evening, 

When the sun had sunk to rest, 
And no wind o'er ocean stealing 

Moved the waves upon her breast ; 
When, forgetting all the cares of life. 

My spirit sought repose, 
There, from the deep-blue ocean, 

A lovely maiden rose. 

Her form was of the fairest 

That ever mortal saw ; 
While in her hand she held a gem, 

From the depth of ocean's store. 



From the sea-bird sadly weeping, 
That jewel bright once fell. 

And a fish beneath the water 
Had closed it in its shell. 

She dropped that pearl so brilliant 

From out her snow-white hand, 
And the loud-resounding ocean 

Became a beauteous land. 
That isle from ocean rising, 

Seemed a paradise on earth, 
Where never cares or sorrows, 

But joys spring into birth. 

She beckoned to approach her ; 

My soul obeyed the call, 
And from the misty future 

She removed the darkened pall. 
Before my eyes revolving 



140 THE heart's musings. 

The fates of all moved slow, 
The destinies of nations, 
And the lives of men below. 

There was the sage, the warrior, 

The brave, the good, the wise, 
And our nation's future heroes 

Stood revealed before mine eyes. 
I saw their crested helmets 

Decked with laurels for their toils. 
And their armies crowned in glory 

With a conquered nation's spoils. 

I saw the eagle standard 

Float high above the rest, 
And o'er time-honored nations waved 

Our country's gallant crest. 
Her future fame unfolded, 

Caught my soul in raptures high, 



THE heart's musings. 141 

And our own star-spangled banner 
Waved triumphant in the sky. 

There seemed, as I was dreaming, 

A noble vine to rise ; 
And I thought I saw it urging 

Its progress to the skies. 
It grew in such luxuriance, 

And spread its branches round, 
When one more fair in foliage 

Sprang upwards from the ground. 

I watched and saw its motions, 

As to its mate inclined, 
And lo ! their gentle branches 

Round each other were entwined. 
And upwards in their progress, 

As gentle as the day, 
The one around the other clasped, 

To heaven they bent their way. 



142 THE heart's musings. 

I asked of that fair being, 

What could the vision mean ? 
" The life of him you love," said she. 

Shines in its silver sheen. 
His life shall be as happy 

As the bird that wings its flight,' 
Or like the star-lit even, 

Unclouded, clear, and bright. 

" Look and you'll see the second 

On his manly bosom stays ; 
Upheld in joy or sorrow 

Is the sun-light of his days. 
So shall they pass o'er life's career, 

And constant joys be given, 
Until they leave this vale of tears 

For better joys in heaven." 



THE heart's musings. 143 



LEILA, 

OR THE INDIAN GIRL OF ONEIDA FOREST. 

The morn rose brightly in heaven's arch, 

Reflecting his hues of a gaudy dye, 

And gently the blue of the heaven high 

Melted into an empurpled sky. 

The fragrance came up from the wild-rose 

bower. 
Blending with dew of the morning hour. 
And mildly did nature arise from sleep, 
When the sun came up from the misty deep ; 
A step comes lightly through the forest 

shade, 
But the rustling leaves its presence betrayed, 



144 THE heart's musings. 

'Twas Leila's, the light-footed Indian maid. 
And why did she leave her maiden lands. 
And the spot where her native wigwam 

stands ? 
Her tale, indeed, is a tale of love ; 
There is one she loves all on earth above, 
One who has youth with ardor fraught, 
And ambition dwells in his inmost thought, 
But his changed voice and mournful tone 
Speak of a heart that's not all his own. 

But why did she seek the lonely wood ? 

A cruel father had demanded a name, 

Ere his daughter's hand Samot could claim. 

He had sought it oft in the din of war, 

But glory from him had gone afar. 

He had loved and sought, but his suit was 

vain. 
And his Leila's hand he could not gain. 



I II K heart's musings. 145 

But she, a maiden, his love returned, 
And for him alone her bosom burned ; 
For him alone she would breast life's sea, 
And wait her lot with a hoping ee. 
But talk not of love, till thou hast known 
The love of maiden for one alone ; 
A maiden within whose gentle mind 
The love of one only is deeply enshrined. 

Samot approached, and his love outpoured 
To the one whom his heart alone adored : 
" Ask not, my love ; oh ! trust the heart 
That has grieved so long with love's deepest 

smart : 
Fostered in tears my affection grew, 
And learned to suffer but yet to be true. 
Deem not my love an ephemeral flower 
That's nursed alone by a sunny shower ; 
'Tis the child of tempests and angry skies, 



146 THE HEARTS MUSINGS. 

Yet 'tis unchanged and their power defies. 
Too well I know, with prophetic heart, 
That never again to meet we part : 
If doomed to death, 'twill only be 
A thing of joys, for I die for thee." 

Leila replied : " Full well I see 
That your fond hopes are placed on me ; 
I tell thee in this sad mournful hour, 
When love feels most its o'erwhelming power. 
Yet if alone this heart shall bleed, 
As days to days and months to months suc- 
ceed, 
No mortal again shall ever bestow 
The joy that my blighted heart can know. 
Oh ! be thou still high-souled and brave, 
To whom my fondest vows I gave ; 
Thy memory soothes in my heart's despair, 
And holds undimmed thine image there." 



THE heart's musings. 147 

Then Samot departed that very day, 
And died in a land far, far away : 
He was slain by the foe in a distant land. 
And his bones lay bleaching on a foreign 

strand. 
Then long did Leila his coming wait ; 
She looked for him early, she looked for him 

late : 
But lonely indeed she looked in vain. 
For her lover could ne'er come back again. 
Then wild grew her look, and crazed her 

brain. 
And her very heart was rent in twain ; 
And week after week, at the close of day, 
To a lofty mountain she'd wind her way. 
And hold communion with him in prayer. 
For she thought that his spirit was slumber- 
ing there : 
As the Indian hunter his chase pursued, 



148 THE heart's musings. 

On the lofty hill where the leaves were 

strewed, 
Found the corse of a maiden slumbering 

there, 
As if fanned to sleep by the mountain air : 
Alone and unw^ept her spirit had flown 
To the land where the soul of her Samot 

had gone, 
And in sweet communion she dwelt with 

him then 
Unharmed, undisturbed by the pride of men. 



THE heart's musings. 149 



OUR UNION, 

Our native land, the pride of earth, 
Enrolled on time's long page shall be, 

When thrones have crumbled into dust. 
And kings are but in memory. 

No humble knee to earth shall bend ; 

For man shall be erect and free, 
As God has made him, lord of all 

In his majestic imagery. 

When freedom's flag shall be unfurled 
Upon the thrones of prostrate kings. 

And monarchs' pageant-trains shall be 
As old and long-forgotten things ; 



160 THE heart's musings. 

Then we will stand unmoved and firm, 
In spite of storm and angry seas, 

And show unshaken to the world 
Our Union and our Liberties. 

No storm shall rend a single stripe. 
No star shall leave its azure dome, 

But bear aloft this emblem true, 

" Our God, our Union, and our Home. 



THE heart's musings. 151 



THE VESPER HYMN. 

Gently tolled the evening bell, 
Gently came its lengthened swell, 

O'er the hills of good old Spain ; 
Hush ! it was the hour of prayer : 
Cloistered monks were gathered there, 

Singing loud their evening strain. 

Loudly swelled the organ's note, 
Pealing loud from brazen throat, 

Filled the chancel long and wide ; 
Louder rose the lengthened strain, 
As the roaring of the main, 

Swelling, tossing in its pride. 

Hark ! the choir's gentle hymn 
Breaks upon the silence dim, 



152 THE HEART S MUSINGS 

Ave Maria, blessed styled ; 
By no sin or crime beguiled, 

Mother of thy holy child, 
Pray for us, now tempest-tossed. 
Rudder gone, and compass lost, 

Guard us through life's tempest wild. 

Ora, Virgin ever blessed, 
Ave, Virgin pure confessed, 

Hear our prayers to thee addressed : 
Ave sancta, incorrupta, 
Aude nostra supplicata, 

Aid, O Virgin, ever blessed ! 



THE heart's musings. 153 



DREAMS OF HEAVEN. 

Dream'st thou of heaven ? such dreams 
divine 

Waft oft adown earth's storm-tossed shore, 
Kindhng a flame on Hfe's dull shrine, 

Till anguish tears the breast no more. 

This life were woe, if some bright dreams 
Came not as stars to light the past, 

Gleaming with hope's effulgent beams. 
That brighten ere they fade at last. 

When death has called some dear-loved 

friend 

From out his mansion in the clay, 

Then dreams of heavenly radiance lend 

A bright refulgence o'er our way. 
7* 



154 THE heart's musings. 

The death which seems so chilHng here 

Is but new entrance into Hfe ; 
The breaking heart, the starting tear, 

But seal our souls from doubt and strife. 

The flowers of earth but transient are, 
An emblem of our own young prime, 

That perish 'neath the sun's red glare 
To blossom in a brighter clime. 

They perish here, but not decay. 
But rise remodelled from the tomb, 

And then they bloom more bright and gay. 
Removed from fear, from grief and gloom. 



THE heart's musings. 155 



MAN. 

Mankind is formed of varied flowers 
Of varied tints ; a garden v^here 
The choicest buds, the rankest weeds, 
Promiscuous grow^ -: and so it is, 
And so it still must be. Were all 
Alike, 'twould sink into a sea 
Of dull satiety, or melt 
Into disgust ; the very soul 
Would hate the shortest length of life, 
And seek in death what life could ne'er 
Afford. The mind, above the plain 
And level waste of time, would soar 
To meet the planets in their way, 
And sail the expanse of air ; perchance 
To trace the fiery comet's course, 



156 



To see the slow moon wax and wane, 
Why earth revolves, and what bright suns 
Beyond the clear blue heavens lie, 
To light the wandering stars. 

Man may 
Destroy the flesh : this clod of earth 
Is but a thing that once was pure, 
Yet soon, alas ! be made the food 
Of worms — which fadeth, leaving all 
Our brightest hopes unrealized. 
But the immortal soul — the thing 
God formed in his own image — soars 
Still on, increasing in its own 
Great magnitude, till its own might 
Grasps heaven and earth in one extent 
Of boundless range, too mighty for 
The mightiest soul of earth to gaze 
Upon. Yet earth is beautiful : 



THE hejlrt's musings. 157 

The trees, that put in spring their bright 

Green robe, as if awaked from sleep, 

Had just but seen their utter and 

Entire nakedness, and those 

White flowers, as if the lordHngs of 

The wood had decked themselves for nature's 

Bridal morn. And summer, too ; 

When leave the trees with their rich deep 

Green foliage : while from their tops 

The winged wanderers of air 

Send forth their matins to the God 

Of heaven. And earth is lovely too : 

The rippling brooks, that softly down 

The umbrageous side of many a hill 

Pour their swift course ; while here the grey 

Old rocks, the antique monuments 

Of by-gone time, of ages that 

Have passed into oblivion, tell, too, 

That tale, " The earth is beautiful." 



158 THE heart's musings. 

The sky, where many a star Hghts up 
The black, dull night, and the pale, dim 
Crescent lamp, whose gentler rays reflect 
Her gentler race, and her pale beams 
Proclaim the fairy holiday. 
As 'neath the mountain oak they dance. 
While deep the beetle winds his 
Sullen horn, and the shrill cricket chirps 
His midnight lay. 

And yet mankind, 
While all around is joy, while all 
Bright nature teems with eloquence 
And beauty, while the opening buds, 
The flowers, the leaves, and all proclaim 
Their Maker's power omnipotent, 
Poor man allows each weary day 
To pass ; too short, alas ! for all 
The self-made visions of his hope. 



THE heart's musings. 169 

Then sees in hope's bright eye, the friend, 
The aider of our better lot, 
Each air-drawn dream of his brain-formed 
Expectancy complete. 

Man plots 
And works each little scheme, yet thinks 
Not that a morrow's dawn may find 
Him in oblivion, and all 
His hope turned to invisibility. 
Chaos and gloom must settle o'er 
This clod of earth, and in the grave 
Our faults be unremembered. 
And we must press the earth, — the rich, 
The poor, alike must find his bed 
In lowly clay, and the cold turf 
Shut o'er the heavings of his breast. 

And they have said, 
" Death 's an eternal sleep :" but is 
It so ? and does the spirit fade, 



160 



And perish with our dust ? The soul, 
The immortal soul, dies not with clay ; 
But down an endless vale of years 
The spirit roams eternally. 



THE heart's musings. .161 



TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER. 

When in the cold tomb lies the friend that 
has loved thee, 
And o'er his chilled form the earth-worm 
coldly creeps, 
Wilt thou not o'er h'ls ashes shed tears of 
affection. 
Or think of the one that in death-slumber 
sleeps ? 

When lain in the grave, let his faults be for- 
gotten, 
In grief and in silence weep over his tomb ; 
Tread lightly, disturb not his slumbers in 
mourning, 
Nor wake him that sleeps in his darkness 
and gloom. 



162 THE heart's musings. 

Death closed his life's fountain ere age had 

yet chilled it, 
'Twas frozen in all the bright hopes of his 

life, 
And it sleeps till the sunshine of time shall 

awake it, 
. And bear it immortal from trouble and 

strife. 

It sleeps in the tomb, but it rests not for 
ever ; 
It waits till the wings of the soul be 
unfurled, 
And then it will lookwith disdain on the vices, 
And smile in contempt on the sins of the 
world. 

O ! the lamp of his soul but a moment was 
clouded, 



THE heart's musings. 



163 



'Twas darkened awhile with this earth and 
its care, 
Then it flew to its Maker, who, gladly 
receiving, 
With fire undying rekindled it there. 



164 THE heart's musing 



NEVER DESPAIR. 

Never despair, though the sky may be 
darkened, 
And deep the black clouds of adversity 
frown, 
But look to the future and hope for the 
better, 
And call the bright angel of joyousness 
dovv^n. 

Never despair ! though thy bosom seems 
bursting, 
And torn by the thorns of misfortune and 
care. 
But gailily face the dark storm-clouds before 
thee. 
And hold up the w^atchword of " Never 
despair." 



THE HEART 



MUSIN GS. 165 



The passport to fortune ; the guide to the 
future ; 
The brightest escutcheon our banners 
may wear, 
That's spoken in earth, and that's whispered 
in heaven, 
Is the heart-cheering watchword of 
"Never despair." 



166 THE heart's musings. 



TO I. W. C. 

O! YES, must we own that our fond recol- 
lection 
Rekindled itself as we gazed o'er the past, 
That the moments we joined in our heart's 
young affection 
Seemed almost too beautiful ever to last. 

And I gazed in the future, triumphantly 
beaming • 

With hope's brilliant rays o'er the ocean 
of life. 
And I saw the fair winds of prosperity 
streaming, 
And wafting thy vessel from discord and 
strife. 



THE heart's musings. 167 

I tossed and I heaved on the wild troubled 
ocean, 
And my heart seemed as sinking in gloom 
and despair, 
But I looked and I saw through the 
madd'ning commotion 
The star-guide of hope shining joyfully 
there. 

And that ray broke the clouds of despair 
and of sorrow, 
And softly it beamed o'er my wearisome 
way, 
Till the clouds that o'ercast were all gone 
by the morrow, 
And the gloom of the soul had all vanished 
away. 



168 THE heart's musings. 



THE INDIAN MAIDEN'S GRAVE. 

They laid her to rest 

On the cold earth's breast, 

Where the streamlet was gently flowing, 
And the whispering trees 
Seemed to sing to the breeze, 

As they bent to the zephyr's blowing. 

And the wild birds there 

Gave the parting prayer. 
O'er the grave of the maiden gay, 

And the funeral song, 

As it lingered long, 
Re-echoed, " We're passing away." 

No high- wrought tomb, 
With its chilling gloom, 



I' HE REARf's MUSINGS. 169 

There dazzled the passing eye ; 

But alone and unwept 

In silence she slept, 
Where the river went murmuring by. 

And the trees, as they wave 

O'er the Indian's grave, 
Keminding us, seem to say, 

'* Remember this truth, 

That, in age or in youth. 
We soon must be passing away/* 

The old and the young. 

The gay and the strong, 
On the earth but a moment may stay, 

Then winging their flight 

To the regions of light, 
But tell us, " We're passing away." 



I'JO THE heart's musings. 

And the birds, as they fly 
Through the ether on high, 

To lands that more genial lay, 

Tell, in heart-stirring numbers, 
** Awake from your slumbers ! 

You soon must be passing away." 



THE heart's musings. 171 



THE WANDERER. 

I SAW him and he was alone, 
Roaming an outcast o'er the face of earth ; 
An exile and a wanderer, shunning 
His fellow-man as some dread pestilence. 
His eye was sad, and his dark brow bespoke 
Some inward grief, and in his veins his thick, 
Black blood moved sluggishly. 

He wandered o'er the world ; 
And the happy home, where he had roamed 
His careless steps in infancy, he once 
More visited : but it was all save home 
To him ; its very name was tainted with 
Disgust : and its freshness, that breathes a 
love 

To other souls, told but a pang of grief 



To him ; and as he thought, his soul within 
Would quiver, and his limbs would shake> 

his eyes 
Would glare with an unearthly brilliancy, 
And a fierce storm would seem to rend his 

soul, 
As when the li^htninc^ rends the mountain 

oak. 
Some one did mention "Mother," and I saw 
Him start and look aghast, and then he 

seizied 
His fevered brow convulsively, and then 
He sat him on the ground and wept. 

Not the mere tears that sorrow sheds, 
But burning, scalding tears, that dry the 

fount 
From whence they flow, till they by their 

own heat 
Have dried themselves and stopped ; 



THE heart's musings. 1*73 

As the hot, molten lava, parch the ground 
On which they run. He then did pace 

around, 
And like the horse that fiercely champs the 

bit, 
Impatiently did wait for death. 

I saw him once a2;ain : 
His brow was whitened, and his weak, old 

frame 
Was bowed with sorrow, and his knees did 

totter 
'Neath a load he dare not cast away. 
His spirit's voice was hushed beneath the 

death 
Of hope and conscience- weight of sin. He 

walked 
As one whose dearest joy had fled, and all 
His life had been a blank, which neither tinier 



174 THE heart's musings. 

Nor space, nor all could yet fill up. To him' 
The earth was girt with blackness, and the 

pall 
Of midnight gloom hung o'er his sp^virit's- 

grave. 
For such his mind lay in its cavern, still 
Rotting and useless, while most sullen care 
Fed on his vitals. 

Long years of outrage. 
Calumny, and wrong, imputed madness^ 
Had been his, until his soul despairing 
Pardon, sought relief in woe. 

He had been a fit 
Companion for the hissing snake, that creeps 
'Mid jungles dark, and, stingless, hisses at 
Each passer-by. He from the noon-time of 
His life had served nor God, nor man, nor 

au2;ht 
Of living things ; not for himself alone, 



THE heart's musings. 175 

But, like the mountain-devil, slays his own 
Poor soul, to cast revenge on others. So 
He lived, and now had not a friend to soothe 
His thorny couch, or drive the canker-worm 
Of gloom away, which preys like hell's dread 

fire 
Upon his aching soul. 

I saw him but one more, 
And his mild eye did stare on vacancy : 
He did gaze around, yet saw nothing % 

He beheld. Like as a dark night's dream, 

there 
Was but dread invisibiUty to 
All of moving things, and his parched soul 

was 
Hopeless, prayerless, joyless, sleepless, death- 
less. 
And I did mark him how he shook, and pale 



176 THE heart's MUSIJfGS. 

He quivered on the brink of death. Anon ! 
He raised himself, as reason took her seat 
Once more upon her throne ; and he did 

speak : 
*' But this is o'er — my mournful Hfe is done ; 
The long-sustaining grief of years is soon 
To flee, that all my sorrows could not wring 
A thought to fill a page of tears ; hut still 
My punishment was of the mind : I knew 
And felt my guilt, and its dread oeeafU 

then 

Was fathomless and had no shore. Upon 

My brain was heard the maniac cry of sin, 

Despair and grief held in captivity. 

I saw the world, this treasure-house of woes ; 

Its laughter brought not mirth : I saw, indeed. 

But madness in its babbling crowds ; its joy 

Gave curses, and I hated e'en myself, 

And gave me up to death-like solitude ; 
8* 



THE heart's musings. ITY 

Slighting my life's career, branding my 

thoughts 
With hate, yet struggled to be calm. Thou, 

too, 
Art passed, stern conscience, and thy reign 

ended. 
No more wilt thou stamp madness on my 
Memory, nor work with needless torture at 
Thy tyrant- will ; wretched yet faithful I ! 
For 'tis my fate to have some feeling, save 
The one decay. So let it be, and soon 
I shall repose in endless sleep. They called 
Me mad " 

He breathed a short, quick gasp, 
And died, and left his life a mystery. 
While his lone current reached the deep, 

black gulf, 
Where all is still. 



iiRRARY OF CONGRESS 

015 785995A 



